How Insurance Companies Devalue Personal Injury Claims (and What You Can Do About It)

Insurance companies are corporations primarily focused on maximizing profit—not your recovery. As noted, “paying out damage claims does not help the insurer’s bottom line,” so adjusters use tactics to either deny, delay, or devalue your claim.

Soon after your claim, you may get a seemingly generous payout. But these early offers typically fail to account for future medical costs or full pain and suffering damages.

Insurers often claim that you were partially at fault—or the only one at fault—to reduce payouts under comparative negligence laws.

Adjusters may argue your injuries are minor, unrelated, or pre‑existing—even if the crash significantly worsened your health. They also rely heavily on data analytics to flag “gaps in treatment” and surveillance to discredit your pain.

If signed, these forms grant access to your entire medical history. Adjusters comb those records looking for evidence of pre-existing conditions to blame for your current injuries.

Insurance companies often request recorded statements soon after the accident. Anything you say could be twisted to minimize your case, so avoid giving one without legal guidance.

Some adjusters may falsely claim that Texas caps non‑economic damages or that your case won’t qualify for certain compensation, hoping you’ll settle early.

Insurance companies frequently delay by requesting unnecessary paperwork or postponing calls. As time passes and medical bills pile up, you may feel pressured to accept their first offer.

Complete your treatment plan and document every visit, symptom, and instruction from your healthcare provider. Keep an injury journal for reference later.

An attorney knows how insurance adjusters operate and can negotiate directly with them. They also know when to threaten litigation to prompt fair offers. If you have an attorney you know, trust, or have consulted with on personal or business matters, it is always best to first seek out your trusted attorney regardless of the area of practice you believe they may “specialize” in. It is quite common to begin getting calls from unknown lawyers or “investigators” after an accident. Do not trust lawyers or investigators who reach out to you! YOU seek out legal counsel that you trust. (Note: It is ILLEGAL and a CRIME for lawyers or investigators to solicit you after an accident.)

Limit record access only to documents relevant to your claim. A qualified attorney can negotiate stricter authorization terms on your behalf.

If an offer is made before your injuries stabilize, consult a lawyer first. Settlements are usually final—meaning you lose the right to pursue additional compensation later.

Insurance companies routinely monitor posts to contradict your injury claims. Avoid posting anything that could be used against your case.

Texas recognizes bad faith insurance conduct. If your insurer acts in bad faith—like unjustifiably delaying, undervaluing, or denying your claim—you may have additional causes of action beyond the base claim.

Insurance companies follow a “Delay, Deny, Defend” playbook to protect their profits—not serve your recovery. Knowing these tactics is the first step to making sure you receive fair compensation.

If you’ve been injured in Texas, don’t let an insurance adjuster talk you into accepting less than you deserve. For help building strong documentation and negotiating with insurance, contact The Law Office of Silverio Martinez, experienced in both personal injury and insurance bad faith cases.

Schedule your free consultation today or call (956) 724‑5047
[Learn more about our Personal Injury practice] (https://silveriomartinezlaw.com/personal-injury-attorney/)